To save dough, state DOT no longer mows just for show

TIM O'BRIEN STAFF WRITER

Published 12:00 am, Monday, August 23, 2010

Q: Recently I was traveling back to the Capital Region from Boston on the Massachusetts Pike and every now and then I saw those large mowers used to mow the grass on the sides of the highways. I'm used to seeing them parked on highways everywhere, but for some reason this time they got me thinking: What is the purpose of maintaining the grass on the sides of highways? It seems that it takes so much work and money just to mow the grass in the medians and shoulders of the country's highways.

He outlined three reasons New York state used to trim the roadside grass:

Safety, if long grass creates a sight-distance problem for motorists;

Drainage, if grass inhibits the the ability of water to drain properly from a roadway or adjacent to a roadway; and

Aesthetics, if grass becomes unsightly.

"As a way to reduce fuel consumption in our vehicles and reduce our carbon footprint, we now mow to ensure motorist safety and to reduce the possibility of water pooling on a roadway," he said. "As of this time, we no longer mow for aesthetic reasons."

Q: There is a series of potholes in the eastbound lane of the section of Myrtle Avenue (between Delaware Avenue and South Swan Street) in Albany that is so bad that drivers routinely cross over into the westbound lane, and stay there for the length of the block, just to avoid them.

It looks like the "potholes" are from utility work, as they are mostly square in shape. However, it's been like this for years now. Being a two-way section of the street, it's incredibly unsafe for drivers to have to do this and only a matter of time before something bad happens.

A: James Miller, who answers our questions about Albany streets, says a permanent fix is not on the agenda this year.

"Myrtle Avenue is not on the list to be paved this year," he said.

A Department of General Services crew will be sent over to evaluate the street, and perform spot repairs to smooth out any rough areas, he said. "Once an evaluation of the roadway can be completed, it will be considered for paving in 2011."

Considered, mind you. No guarantees.

In just over a year of writing this column, this has never happened before.

In March, we printed a question from reader John Venditti of Schenectady. He asked about the condition of State Street in Schenectady.

City Engineer Paul Cassillo agreed with Venditti that some of the city's roads were in rough shape, but added that there were plans to pave State Street this summer. "Hopefully you will be happy with the results," he said.

And we added, in our mischievous way, that if the reader wasn't, that's why we're here. Well, Venditti saw fit to let us know his reaction to the now-completed work. "Well, let me say I am pleased with the results and you, Paul, should be proud of a job well-done," he wrote. "Thanks for the greatest response of all."

"Getting There" is compiled by staff writer Tim O'Brien. Do you have a question about transportation? Call 454-5020 or e-mail gettingthere@timesunion.com. Please include your name, town and telephone number.

Hot spots

What to watch for this week:

Fuller Road, Albany, Colonie and Guilderland: Construction has begun at the southern end near Western Avenue heading north. This year, the section between Western and Washington avenues is expected to be finished. Traffic will be one lane in each direction. The section between Washington and Central will be done next year.

Bridge Avenue, Cohoes: The street will be closed for bridge reconstruction until fall. A third traffic lane has been added on Ontario Street to help improve traffic flow while the bridge is closed to motorists and pedestrians. Cedar Street also will be closed to motorists for the duration of the project. The Capital District Transportation Authority will provide a new bus route free of charge to and from Van Schaick Island while the bridge is closed. The shuttle will run Monday through Friday from 7:10 a.m. to 8:41 a.m. and from 3:25 to 4:55 p.m.

Albany Shaker and Maxwell roads, Colonie: Work continues on creating a new Maxwell Road and installing a roundabout.

Route 32, Gansevoort: Highway maintenance will be done at the intersection of Route 32 and Schuyler Heights Drive with flagging operations each weekday. Work is expected to conclude Aug. 27.

Route 67, Hoosick: The bridge carrying state Route 67 over the Hoosic River is being replaced. Drivers should expect alternating, one-way traffic.

Interstate 87 and Route 7, Latham: Project to replace bridge carrying Route 7 over the Northway at Exit 6 continues. Travel lanes on the Route 7 bridge will be reduced to one through lane and one left-turn lane in each direction. For more information, see http://www.exit6.org/ and for current traffic information, see http://www.511ny.org/.

Malta Avenue, Malta: Work to replace the bridges over the Northway between exits 12 and 13 continues. The bridges are expected to be closed until September. Signs will direct motorists to a detour on state routes 9, 146, 67 and 50 onto North Line Road. Motorists can expect a single lane to be closed as needed between exits 12 and 13 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

U.S. Route 4, Northumberland to Greenwich: A temporary traffic signal is being set up on each side of the bridge carrying Route 4 over the Hudson River. The bridge is to be closed until Aug. 31 for painting.

Interstate 88, Rotterdam: Bridge maintenance work will be done on I-88 next to Thruway Exit 25A for two miles west with a right lane closed in each direction.

Route 9P, Saratoga/Saratoga Springs: The bridge over Saratoga Lake at Fish Creek is being replaced. Alternating one-way traffic will be controlled by a signal. Utility work south of the bridge will include traffic controlled by flaggers.